Three different companies just released their national apartment reports showing the cities with the highest rents across the US. Not surprisingly, Seattle was coming in near the top on each of the lists!

Featuring views of Lake Union, sound and Space Needle. Water, sewer, garbage, basic cable, electricity, internet, 1 parking spot and a storage unit all included in the rent. Recently updated with new carpet, new appliances, new tile shower, new counter tops, new, new, new! Large community deck perfect for entertaining. Only blocks from South Lake Union and Amazon. Close to Pike’s Market, Whole Foods, restaurants and shopping. Amenities: on-site manager, indoor pool, exercise room and party room.

This townhome boasts a 95% Walkscore. Share 1 wall with a neighbor and have a private outdoor space and your own garage. A block from the buslines, grocery stores and minute walk to downtown Ballard. Brand new carpet in the bedrooms and den will keep your feet warm. This gourmet kitchen has tons of storage and gas stovetop. Enjoy the beautiful hardwoods in the living space while cozying up to the fireplace. This home offers tons of windows and storage. It is the perfect place to call home!Julie Johnston | 206 349 8923 | julie@pointe3.com

Puget Sound Business Journal recently published a report about the current state of King and Pierce County’s Rental Market. Below is a summary of what’s happening now!

The rate of rent started increasing again in January in the Seattle-Bellevue-Everett market after five months of decline. Overall, rent prices in Seattle are still going up, but at a slower pace, a recent report by a national company that tracks rental markets found. It’s a different story in the Tacoma-Lakewood market, where the rent growth rate has really gone up.

Year-over-year, the rate of rent growth in Seattle was 7.3% in January. That was down from December’s 7.9% annual increase, but higher than the 7% rise that was logged in January 2015. This January, the average apartment rent was $1,649.

Tacoma’s year-over-year rate of rent growth was 9% in January, up a bit from December’s 8.8%t increase but way ahead of the 5.5% increase from January 2015. This January, the average apartment rent was $1,171.
Increasing Demand the Cause of Rising Rates

A likely reason Tacoma’s rental rates are climbing is increasing demand. As people get priced out of Seattle, they’re moving to lower-cost markets. Apartment investors are responding by buying suburban properties.

Strong job growth has driven up rent prices in Seattle and Tacoma. At the beginning of December, Seattle-based Conway Pedersen said job growth for 2015 would be 3.2%.

But tenants may see some rental relief because the region’s red-hot job growth is forecast to cool off, according to the December issue of Conway Pedersen’s Puget Sound Economic Forecaster. It called for job growth of 2.3 percent this year, and 1.5 percent in 2017.

Are you looking to lease out your home or need help finding a new rental home? Contact us at 206-315-4628 today!

We are starting to see the relocation market heating up for spring already!

Swedish, REI, Zulilly and Starbucks are consistently bringing in lots of new hires through our relocation division. Boeing is also still hiring despite the recent lay-off headlines, and their new 777X factory should be opening within the next couple of months. In addition, Amazon just signed a lease on another 12-story office building in South Lake Union, so we expect another wave of employees coming through to help fill that.

A lot of our relocation clients right now are looking for 1 bedrooms or 1 bedrooms with dens, want to lock in 12 month leases, and prefer to be in the urban environment (South Lake Union, Capitol Hill, lower Queen Anne, Belltown, downtown Bellevue).

If you’ve been waiting to lease out your unit, now is the time. Give us a call at 206-315-4628 to get a free rental market analysis for your property!